Childcare costs in Bristol

[M1nstrel]

We're moving to Brislington in a couple of months and trying to gauge childcare costs to factor into our budget. The places I've called so far won't give me any idea of what their costs are until I visit! What are the average costs for a pre-school? We'd be looking at 8am-6pm, Mon-Thurs and our son turns 3 in September so from January we'd be hoping to get the free 30 hours. Also, any recommendations for good pre-schools please? My son has multiple food allergies so does anyone have any experience of that in a childcare setting? TIA.

Be aware that some nurseries are not offering the 30 free hours.
That's mad they won't tell you the fees till you visit!

If you don't mind me asking, which nurseries have you enquired about so far? Did they have any information on their websites?

If it helps, we have found the nursery fees fairly similar to in London (where we moved from). The one we looked at were charging £50-60 per day.

Bummer...I had hoped to save some money. Thanks for the heads up!

Mine N Bristol was £50, 9 years ago!
But the 15 hours free do help

From my recent investigations into nurseries in Bristol the hourly rate varies from £50-£65 a day.

We would pay £60 a day without free hours. Childminders are much cheaper at £5.50 per hour.

Yes, more or less £55 a day.

Ours is £7 per hour excluding food. It's a council run nursery. Worth the extra £ IMO. It is outstanding across the board.

My son was given the wrong meal at a private nursery on his first week! Luckily his dietary requirements aren't a big health issue. Lots of private ones fiddle the hours too so it's hard to use your free hours as you'd like.

There is a forest school type nursery in Brislington opening this September which looks fab. Think it's called Out There.

I currently pay £72 a day, for a four year old. They charge £7 an hour.

Nursery at Temple Meads was £58 a day for a one year old but that was a few years ago!

I think we pay £42 per day at Stepping Stones in Brislington for my almost 2 year-old. They do however fiddle the free hours, so you end up paying more or less the same for a three year old as a two year old. I have a lot of sympathy as I think it's very difficult for nurseries to provide the free hours. However it did mean we removed our daughter once she was 3, and put her in the state nursery attached to St Anne's infants, which was excellent. There's also a very good one at st Philip's marsh.